Method for cellular lysis of prokaryotes or eukaryotes or simultaneous cellular lysis of prokaryotes and eukaryotes

ABSTRACT

A method for lysing prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells, or for simultaneous lysis of both, which includes at least three of the following: a mass of active, small-diameter beads corresponding to 50% or less than a mass of active, larger-diameter beads, and/or a total mass of lysing beads (consisting of a single type of bead or a mixture of smaller and larger beads) corresponding to between 50 and 100% of the total mass of the processed biological sample, and/or a lysis time of from 10 to 20 minutes, and/or seven or less non-lysing glass beads to drive the movement of the lysing beads, and/or from five to fifteen non-lysing iron beads to drive the movement of the lysing beads, depending on whether sonication, mechanical vortex centrifugation or magnetic vortex centrifugation is used.

This application is a U.S. National Stage of International applicationPCT/FR01/02442, filed Jul. 26, 2001.

This invention concerns methods for universal lysis suitable for thesimultaneous lysis of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, for threedifferent techniques, namely sonication, mechanical vortexcentrifugation, and magnetic vortex centrifugation.

The background art consists of documents which deal with each of thethree above-mentioned techniques separately.

As far as sonication is concerned, the applicant submitted PatentApplication FR99/04289 which describes a method in which the sonotrodeis activated with the following characteristics:

-   -   a sonication time of 10 to 15 minutes,    -   a cycling ratio of between 40 and 60% (preferably 50%), and    -   an output power of 10 to 30 W.

Such sonication is effective for lysing microorganisms such as bacteriaand yeast cells. Nevertheless, results can be improved, as shown by thisinvention. The same is true for other background art documents such asEP-A-0.337.690 which mentions only one bacterium, namely Listeriainnocua.

Mechanical vortex centrifugation has already been described in one ofthe applicant's previous patent applications. Application WO-A-99/15621deals with a method for lysing a biological sample containing at leastone microorganism, either a bacterium or a yeast. Lysis methods differin terms of the diameter of the beads used which, for bacteria is ofbetween 90 and 150 μm, preferably 100 μM, and for yeast cells, 500 μm.It should be noted that in this patent application, a mixture ofdifferent-sized zirconium beads was used, 50% with a diameter of 100 μmand the other 50% with a diameter of 500 μm (see FIGS. 1 and 2 protocolG) to lyse bacteria of the species Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Although the results obtained with this ratio of different-sized beadswere satisfactory, they were not as good as those obtained with:

-   -   glass beads of between 90 and 150 μm in diameter (Protocol C),    -   glass beads with a diameter of 100 μm (Protocol D), or    -   zirconium beads with a diameter of 100 μm (Protocol E).

The applicant has already described and claimed a device and a methodfor the lysis of microorganisms based on magnetic vortex centrifugation.Thus, in patent application WO-A-00/05338, the lysis device includes atleast two different types of means of crushing with differentdimensions:

-   -   at least one larger, magnetized means, the movement of which is        actuated in a magnetic field, and    -   at least one smaller means, the movement of which is driven by        the larger means of crushing.        The larger means of crushing is constituted by at least one bead        with a large diameter, and the smaller means of crushing is        constituted by at least one bead with a small diameter. The        ratio between the size of the smaller means of crushing and the        size of the larger means of crushing is between 1/10 and 1/100,        preferably between 1/30 and 1/60 and, more exactly, this ratio        is 1/40.

However, the applicant continued work on this technical problem anddeveloped protocols for lysing all types of microorganism, be theyprokaryotic (bacteria), eukaryotic (yeasts), or a mixture of prokaryotesand eukaryotes. These protocols—said to be universal—are as effective aslysis methods specifically designed for bacteria or yeasts such as thosedescribed in the above-mentioned background art. Surprisingly, incertain cases, these universal protocols often proved more effectivethan the lysis methods in the background art.

To this effect, this invention concerns a method for lysing prokaryoticor eukaryotic cells, or for the simultaneous lysis of both prokaryoticand eukaryotic cells, which consists in adapting at least three of thefollowing parameters:

-   -   a mass of active, small-diameter beads, corresponding to 50% or        less than the mass of active, large-diameter beads, and/or    -   a total mass of lysing beads (consisting of a single type of        bead or a mixture of smaller and larger beads) corresponding to        between 50 and 100% of the total mass of the processed        biological sample, and/or    -   a lysis time of between 10 and 20 minutes, and/or    -   seven (7) or fewer non-lysing glass beads to drive the movement        of the lysing beads, and/or    -   between five (5) and fifteen (15) non-lysing iron beads to drive        the movement of the lysing beads,        depending on the technique being used:    -   sonication,    -   mechanical vortex centrifugation, or    -   magnetic vortex centrifugation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the lysing beads are made of glass.

According to another preferred embodiment, the diameter of the smallerlysing beads is between 90 and 150 μm and preferably of about 100 μm,and the diameter of the larger lysing beads is between 400 and 600 μmand preferably of about 500 μm.

If the sonication technique is used, the method consists in achievinglysis with the following parameters:

-   -   a lysis time of between 9 and 20 minutes, preferably between 12        and 18 minutes, and more preferably still of 15 minutes,    -   a percentage of beads with a diameter of 100 μm of between 10        and 50%, preferably between 20 and 30%, and more preferably        still of 20%, and    -   a total mass of lysing beads corresponding to between 50 and        100% of the total mass of the processed biological sample,        preferably between 75 and 90%, and more preferably still between        80 and 85%.

If the mechanical vortex centrifugation technique is used, the methodconsists in achieving lysis with the following parameters:

-   -   a lysis time of between 11 and 20 minutes, preferably between 15        and 20 minutes, and more preferably still of 20 minutes,    -   a percentage of beads with a diameter of 100 μm of under 50%,        preferably under 30%, and more preferably still of 20%, and    -   a total mass of lysing beads of over 60%, preferably over 80%,        and more preferably still of 100% of the total mass of the        processed biological sample, and    -   less than seven (7) glass beads, preferably just one (1).

If the magnetic vortex centrifugation technique is used, the methodconsists in achieving lysis with the following parameters:

-   -   a lysis time of between 12 and 20 minutes, preferably between 15        and 20 minutes, and more preferably still of 20 minutes,    -   a total mass of lysing beads with a diameter of 100 μm of over        80% and preferably of 100% of the total mass of the processed        biological sample, and    -   between five (5) and fifteen (15) iron beads, preferably        ten (10) iron beads.

The accompanying drawings are given by way of example and are not to betaken as limiting in any way. They are designed to make the inventioneasier to understand.

FIG. 1 shows an example of isoresponse curves for an ERM approach.

FIG. 2 shows isoresponse curves for the lysis of yeast cells bysonication.

FIG. 3 shows isoresponse curves for the lysis of bacterial cells bysonication.

FIG. 4 shows isoresponse curves for the lysis of yeast cells bymechanical vortex centrifugation.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows isoresponse curves for the lysis of bacterialcells by mechanical vortex centrifugation.

I. MATERIALS AND METHODS

As mentioned in the background art, three techniques are known, namelysonication, mechanical vortex centrifugation, and magnetic vortexcentrifugation. Each has been independently defined for the lysis ofeither bacterial cells or yeast cells. The parameters defined here foreach shown in Table 1 are in keeping with the parameters deemed correctin the background art. It should be noted that the volume of all thebiological samples treated—be it using the reference protocols or theprotocols according to this invention—is 600 μl.

TABLE 1 Lysis protocols according to the background art, referred to asreference protocols Protocol Mechanical vortex Magnetic vortexSonication centrifugation centrifugation bacterial yeast bacterial yeastbacterial yeast Factor cells cells cells cells cells cells Diameter (μm)100 500 100 500 100 500 and quantity of and and and and and and activebeads 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.5 Number of / / 6 / / glass beads (diameter= 3 mm) Number of iron / / 10 10 beads (diameter = 2 mm) Lysis time 15min. 2 min. 12 min. 10 min. 12 min.

The active beads described as “lysing” beads correspond to beads whichmediate lysis of the microorganisms. These beads have a relatively smalldiameter (100 or 500 μm). It should be noted that the glass beads with adiameter of 100 μm are obtained from Masteau & Lamarie, Paris, France(reference: Via 1), and that the glass beads with a diameter of 500 μmare supplied by Sigma, St. Louis, Mo., USA (reference: 8772).

In contrast, the purpose of the other glass beads (with a diameter of 3mm) or the iron beads (with a diameter of 2 mm) used in mechanical andmagnetic vortex centrifugation is to drive the movement of the activebeads during lysis. These are referred to as the passive beads, sincethey are only indirectly active via the above-defined active beads. Theglass beads with a diameter of 3 mm are bought from Prolabo,Fontenay-sous-Bois, France, (reference: 00680032), and the iron beadswith a diameter of 2 mm are obtained from Bennk Elektronic, Norderstadt,Germany (reference: 050-330).

It should be noted that the iron beads can be coated with a biologicallyinert material such as plastic or glass in order to isolate the metaland prevent any leaching which can compromise subsequent operations inwhich the nucleic acids released during lysis are amplified.

In the following, the results obtained using the methods according tothe invention will be compared with those obtained using theabove-described reference methods.

The value of a universal lysis protocol is to make possible thedetection of microorganisms in normally sterile biological fluids (e.g.cerebrospinal fluid, urine or blood), without prior knowledge of whetherthe microorganism concerned is prokaryotic (a bacterium) or eukaryotic(a yeast).

A) Experimental Research Methodology

An Experimental Research Methodology (ERM) approach was adopted forsonication and mechanical vortex centrifugation. An experimentalapproach was adopted for magnetic vortex centrifugation.

The ERM study includes two steps. Firstly, for various factors, anoptimum range is defined for yeast and another optimum range is definedfor bacteria. This optimum range is defined as that in which lyticefficacy is equivalent or superior to that observed with the referenceprotocol.

Secondly, a so-called overlap range, corresponding to the range in whichthe optimum range for bacteria coincides with the optimum range foryeast, is defined (if such an overlap exists).

ERM is a mathematical approach which involves modeling a biologicalphenomenon—lysis, in this case—in the form of a mathematical equation(often a second degree polynomial equation) of the following type:R=aX+bY+cX ² +dY ² +eXY+f, in which

-   -   R is the experimental response corresponding to the efficacy of        lysis,    -   X and Y are factors which affect lysis such as lysis time and        bead size, and    -   a, b, c, d, e and f are coefficients.        This equation can be represented in the form of graphs referred        to as isoresponse curves, which show how responses vary as a        function of different values for the various factors. FIG. 1        gives an example of some isoresponse curves.

In FIG. 1, two factors are being studied. These factors are the overallweight (X1) of all the lysing beads (i.e. the beads with diameters ofboth 100 μm and 500 μm), and the percentage of this overall weightrepresented by only the beads with a diameter of 100 μm (X2); theresponse is expressed in fluorescence units, i.e. Relative Light Units(RLU). The curves plotted join all points in the experimental rangewhich correspond to the same response. This graph shows that the maximumresponse obtained in the experimental range is one of 900,000fluorescence units, and that in order to obtain this response, the valueof X1 must be between 0.2 and 0.4, and that of X2 close to 20.

Generating the mathematical model necessitates conducting a number ofpreliminary experiments defined by matrices referred to as “compositematrices” which are thoroughly described in the following documents:

-   -   Box and Wilson (1951) “On the experimental attainment of optimal        conditions” Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, B, 13, p.        1-45.    -   Feneuille, Mathieu, Phan-Tan-Lun (1978) <<Méthodologie de la        Recherche Expérimentale. Introduction, outils mathématiques,        études des surfaces de réponse, matrices de mélanges; méthodes        du simplex; “Experimental Research Methodology. Introduction,        mathematical instruments, the study of response surfaces, mixed        matrices; simplex methods; Université d'Aix-Marseille        3—Publication of the LMRE.

B) Response Studied

Lytic efficacy is assayed by measuring the amount of released 16S and23S RNA (for bacteria), or ribosomal RNA (for yeast) by hybridizationwith a chemiluminescent probe. The actual measurement is based on ahybridization protection assay (HPA). The method was developed byGenProbe and is comprehensively described in the article by Norman C.Nelson, Mark A. Reynolds et Lyle J. Arnold Jr: <<(Detection ofAcridinium Esters by Chemiluminescence>> Nonisotropic probing, Blottingand Sequencing (1995) 391-428. Further information on this method can befound in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,745.

Two probes are used, one of which was developed by GenProbe and is soldunder the name Mycoplasma Tissue Culture NI (MTC-NI), see theircatalogue: 104574 Claim. A. As stated on page 3 in the Chapter on“Performance Characteristics”, this probe can be used to detect a widevariety of different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria withoutany cross-reactivity with eukaryotic targets.

A second probe was used for yeasts. It is possible to use a probe suchas those described by:

-   -   J. F. Hindler, S. Kozen, D. A. Bruckner in the article:        <<Application of an rRNA Probe Matrix for Rapid Identification        of Bacteria and Fungi in Routine Blood Cultures>> N^(o) 1557, et    -   D. D. Fuller, T. E. Davis in the article: <<(Comparison of rRNA        Probe Matrix to Conventional Methods for Rapid Identification of        Clinically Significant Bacteria and Fungi Recovered from Blood        Cultures Specimens>> N^(o)1558, in session 154.D, page 221,        Laboratory Tests for Diagnosing Infections; Methods for        susceptibility testing.    -   Abstracts book, ICAAC—Sept. 26-29, 1999—San Francisco—USA—Two        posters presenting the use of a universal probe able to detect        all fungal species (both molds and yeasts).

C) Factors Studied

The factors that can be investigated are:

-   -   the total weight of active beads (in grams),    -   the percentage of the overall bead weight accounted for by        lysing beads with a diameter of 100 μm,    -   lysis time (in minutes),    -   the number of added glass beads with a diameter of 3 mm, and    -   the number of added iron beads with a diameter of 2 mm.

D) Strains of Yeast and Bacteria Used

The yeast strain chosen for the experiments was Candida krusei, thebioMérieux Collection number of which is: API n^(o) 9604191. Thebacterial strain was Mycobacterium fortuitum, the ATCC registrationnumber of which is: 49403.

Lysis was carried out on 600 μl aliquots of a suspension at a density of0.5 MacFarland (bioMérieux densitometer).

II. PRELIMINARY RESULTS USING THE REFERENCE METHODS

A) Results Showing the 100 μm Beads to be More Effective Than the 500 μmBeads for Bacterial Lysis

The results are shown in Table 2 below; all units are expressed in termsof HPA, as in the following Tables (3 through 10).

TABLE 2 Comparison of the 100 μm beads and the 500 μm beads using thethree techniques for bacterial lysis Active beads with a Active beadswith a diameter of diameter of 100 μm 500 μm Readings Mean Readings MeanSonication 125,382 125,180 75,607 84,428 105,474 95,799 120,807 93,081149,057 73,225 Mechanical 105,263 100,513 39,624 43,946 vortex 96,14241,879 centrifugation 97,875 50,584 102,771 43,697 Magnetic 83,40078,213 27,744 28,012 vortex 83,798 28,285 centrifugation 69,290 28,47576,362 27,542

It is evident that, for all three techniques, the 100 μm beads are moreeffective than the 500 μm beads.

B) Results Comparing the Performance of 500 μm Beads and 100 μm Beadsfor the Lysis of Yeast Cells

Some representative results are presented in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Comparison of the 100 μm beads and the 500 μm beads using thethree techniques for the lysis of yeast cells Active beads with a Activebeads with a diameter of diameter of 100 μm 500 μm Readings MeanReadings Mean Sonication 614,668 452,564 1,487,786 1,366,451 391,9421,448,239 567,756 1,281,148 258,648 1,294,420 429,805 1,320,663Mechanical 1,392,101 1,317,454 2,464,220 2,565,353 vortex 1,511,6032,598,929 centrifugation 1,493,588 2,234,830 1,128,468 2,695,3941,061,514 2,833,394 Magnetic 1,688,929 1,543,208 1,026,887 1,131,101vortex 1,853,702 1,192,650 centrifugation 1,361,236 970,409 1,362,1561,097,997 1,450,016 1,367,563

For sonication and mechanical vortex centrifugation, the 500 μm beadsare more effective for the lysis of yeast cells. But for magnetic vortexcentrifugation, the 100 μm beads are more effective.

For sonication and mechanical vortex centrifugation, a universalprotocol necessarily requires a mixture of beads with diameters of both100 μm and 500 μm. In contrast, for magnetic vortex centrifugation, thetwo sizes do not need to be mixed together since 100 μm beads are themore effective for both bacterial and yeast cells.

III. RESULTS FOR LYSIS BY SONICATION ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION

Two factors are used, namely the total mass of lysing beads and thepercentage of the total mass represented by beads with a diameter of 100μm.

A) Sonication and Yeast Cells

In three experiments, the reference protocol (with the total mass oflysing beads=0.3 grams (g) and the percentage of the total massrepresented by beads with a diameter of 100 μm=0%) gave the followingresults: 2 264 515, 1 821 135 and 1 505 887, i.e. a mean result of 1 863846

The results are presented in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4 Comparison of the reference method and methods which could meetthe criteria of this invention for the sonication of yeast cells MassePercentage of 100 μm beads Total mass of lysing 20% 50% 80% beadsReadings Mean Readings Mean Readings Mean 0.1 1,292,794 1,322,9911,220,036 1,182,919 595,207 955,668 1,161,495 1,362,230 1,054,3551,476,144 1,054,256 1,233,330 1,205,671 809,459 1,019,397 1,478,8501,468,613 876,052 0.3 1,454,421 1,407,117 1,289,100 1,331,139 912,332912,904 1,104,398 1,266,980 692,731 1,208,753 1,316,456 745,5331,399,980 1,452,021 1,301,020 1,868,031 0.5 1,704,912 1,650,238 852,9391,252,013 213,745 415,853 1,656,852 1,267,203 604,487 1,266,1841,155,399 429,326 1,861,236 1,732,513 1,762,006

The maximum response is obtained with a percentage of 100 μm beads of20%, and a total mass of lysing beads of 0.5 gram.

FIG. 2 shows the isoresponse curves. These isoresponse curves show that,to obtain a high response (800 000 fluorescence units), the total massof lysing beads must be between 0.3 and 0.5 grams, and the percentage of100 μm beads must be close to 20%.

B) Sonication and Bacteria

The reference protocol uses a total mass of lysing beads of 0.4 g and apercentage of 100 μm beads of 100%. This protocol gives the followingreadings: 264 915, 305 907 and 195 160, i.e. a mean reading of 255 327.

Table 5 shows all of the results obtained.

TABLE 5 Comparison of the reference method and methods which could meetthe criteria of this invention for the sonication of bacteria MasseTotal mass of Percentage of 100 μm beads lysing 20% 50% 80% beadsReadings Mean Readings Mean Readings Mean 0.1 293,068 255,085 229,455288,104 324,640 285,390 199,178 235,334 323,472 213,691 348,094 254,815248,425 307,997 220,425 321,064 319,640 303,600 0.3 316,672 306,462312,002 298,236 256,234 228,692 322,443 279,713 126,639 325,418 284,487303,203 313,086 311,784 252,692 303,192 0.5 272,371 299,829 268,035237,229 183,800 197,722 294,345 162,858 138,313 350,986 272,402 271,054261,954 192,428 319,487 290,421

The maximum response is obtained with a percentage of 100 μm beads of20%, and a total mass of lysing beads of between 0.3 and 0.5 g.

FIG. 3 shows the isoresponse curves. These curves show that, to obtain ahigh response, the total mass of lysing beads must be greater than 0.2g, and the percentage of 100 μm beads must be between 20 and 50%.

C) Selecting a Universal Protocol for Lysis by Sonication

The universal protocol is therefore defined by the following parameters:

-   -   percentage of beads with a diameter of 100% m=20%, and    -   total mass of lysing beads=0.5 g.

In these conditions, the mean response obtained for bacteria is 299 829which is greater than the mean of 255 327 obtained with thebacterium-specific reference protocol based on using only beads with adiameter of 100 μm. This is surprising, all the more so since the meanreading observed for yeast cells is 1 650 238, i.e. not much lower thanthe mean reading (1 863 846) obtained using the yeast-specific referenceprotocol based on using only 500 μm beads.

The method associated with this protocol consists therefore inperforming sonication with the following parameters:

-   -   a percentage of beads with a diameter of 100 μm of between 10        and 50%, preferably between 20 and 30%, and more preferably        still of 20%, and    -   a total mass of lysing beads corresponding to between 50 and        100% of the total mass of the processed biological sample,        preferably between 75 and 90%, and more preferably still between        80 and 85%.

The percentage of the total mass of lysing beads with respect to thetotal mass of the processed biological sample is calculated in thissection—as in the others—on the basis of 0.5 g of lysing beads for a 600μl sample, i.e. substantially 0.6 g. The percentage is therefore:(0.5:0.6)×100=83.33%.

IV. RESULTS FOR LYSIS BY MECHANICAL VORTEX CENTRIFUGATION ACCORDING TOTHE INVENTION

Four parameters are used: the percentage of beads with a diameter of 100μm; the total mass of lysing beads of both 100 μm and 500 μm indiameter; the number of glass beads with a diameter of 3 mm; and lysistime (in minutes).

A) Mechanical Vortex Centrifugation and Yeast Cells

The reference protocol is based on a total mass of lysing beads of 0.3g, a percentage of 100 μm beads of 0%, 6 glass beads, 10 iron beads, anda lysis time of 12 minutes. The HPA readings are 1 944 115, 2 213 485and 2 158 958, i.e. a mean of 2 105 519.

The results are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Comparison between the reference method and methods which couldmeet the criteria for this invention for the lysis of yeast cells Massof Number Percentage of 100 μm beads lysing of glass Lysis 20% 50% 80%beads beads time Readings Mean Readings Mean Readings Mean 0.1 g 1 2min. 173,382 187,805 NT = not 53,771 53,609 198,469 tested 55,591191,565 51,464 13 2 min. 383,782 635,628 NT 566,150 559,011 875,488631,271 647,615 479,612 1 20 1,499,619 819,615 NT 569,050 613,066 min.696,373 590,737 262,854 679,410 13 20 1,009,588 1,194,601 NT 852,1411,037,128 min. 1,472,753 1,041,371 1,101,463 1,217,872 7 11 731,593664,309 NT min. 543,160 718,173 0.35 g  7 11 1,772,021 1,822,683 NT1,342,768 1,491,564 min. 1,817,222 1,740,035 1,878,805 1,391,889 1 11 NT896,736 1,066,980 NT min. 1,329,122 975,083 13 11 NT 1,429,173 1,485,707NT min. 1,439,611 1,588,337 7 2 min. NT 323,207 327,602 NT 271,399388,199 7 20 NT 2,655,347 2,532,245 NT min. 2,620,069 2,321,318 7 11 NT1,519,280 1,466,095 NT min. 1,503,048 1,375,956 0.6 g 1 2 min. 509,952379,277 NT 60,273 80,981 278,641 105,730 349,239 76,940 13 2 min.1,070,276 863,409 NT 234,974 320,819 794,021 467,140 725,931 260,342 120 2,856,141 2,952,656 NT 1,767,239 1,620,779 min. 3,176,777 1,412,7442,825,049 1,682,354 13 20 1,826,409 2,000,094 NT 1,500,483 896,418 min.2,156,630 816,002 2,017,243 372,770 7 11 NT 2,257,042 2,076,765 NT min.1,868,266 2,104,986

FIG. 4 shows the resultant isoresponse curves. Analysis of the curvesshows that the most influential factor is lysis time. For maximumefficacy, a lysis time of 20 minutes is required with less than 50%beads with a diameter of 100 μm, a total mass of lysing beads of greaterthan 0.35 g, and fewer than seven (7) glass beads.

An example of isoresponse curves is given for a total mass of 0.5 g anda percentage of 100 μm beads of 20%.

It is shown that, in order to enhance the response, a lysis time of over11 minutes is required with less than 50% beads with a diameter of 100μm, a total mass of lysing beads of greater than 0.35 g, and fewer thanseven (7) glass beads.

A) Mechanical Vortex Centrifugation and Bacteria

The reference protocol is based on a total mass of lysing beads of 0.6g, a percentage of 100 μm beads of 100%, 6 glass beads, 10 iron beads,and a lysis time of 2 minutes. The corresponding HPA readings are 107406, 124 609 and 138 405, i.e. a mean of 123 473.

The results are shown in Table 7.

TABLE 7 Comparison between the reference method and methods which couldmeet the criteria for this invention for the lysis of bacteria bymechanical vortex centrifugation Mass of Number Percentage of 100 μmbeads lysing of glass Lysis 20% 50% 80% beads beads time Readings MeanReadings Mean Readings Mean 0.1 g 1 2 min. 52,553 65,783 NT 63,18460,008 74,120 58,656 70,675 58,185 13 2 min. 14,521 58,087 NT 41,58645,346 119,746 54,066 39,993 40,387 1 20 342,532 319,286 NT 143,231141,883 min. 192,353 141,178 422,974 141,240 13 20 180,946 166,747 NT62,916 62,131 min. 152,548 33,591 89,886 7 11 NT 95,433 88,830 NT min.NT 89,768 81,290 0.35 g  7 11 96,363 105,687 NT 164,967 148,344 min.82,168 133,405 138,530 146,659 1 11 NT 182,124 137,772 NT min. 134,17797,015 13 11 NT 79,136 69,582 NT min. 58,570 71,041 7 2 min. NT 68,18055,450 NT 55,805 42,366 7 20 NT 326,925 233,194 NT min. 229,725 142,9337 11 NT 103,348 96,760 NT min. 90,163 96,770 0.6 g 1 2 min. 54,44652,154 NT 108,236 106,943 49,842 82,578 130,014 13 2 min. 80,796 72,113NT 102,979 123,315 63,431 162,136 104,830 1 20 275,653 226,063 NT255,286 248,053 min. 153,372 265,434 249,164 223,440 13 20 189,947136,594 NT 176,619 182,044 min. 107,754 183,820 112,081 185,692 7 11 NT131,318 135,438 NT min. 121,488 153,508

FIG. 5 shows the resultant isoresponse curves. Analysis of the curvesshows that the most influential factor is lysis time. To enhance theresponse, a maximum lysis time of 20 minutes is necessary, and thenumber of glass beads must be low. Moreover, the response is slightlybetter with a percentage of 100 μm beads of 20%, and a total mass oflysing beads close to 0.6 g although these two factors have less of aneffect.

Example curves are given for a fixed, total mass of lysing beads of 0.6g, and a fixed percentage of 100 μm beads of 20%. This is the case forFIG. 5.

The curves show that lysis time has a major effect on the response, themaximum response being obtained with a lysis time of 20 minutes. Thenumber of glass beads has less of an effect on lytic efficiency with onesingle bead sufficing.

C) Selecting a Universal Protocol for Lysis by Mechanical VortexCentrifugation

The universal protocol is therefore defined by the following parameters:

-   -   a lysis time of 20 minutes,    -   percentage of beads with a diameter of 100% m=20%,    -   total mass of lysing beads=0.5 g, and    -   one (1) glass bead with a diameter of substantially 3 mm.

In these conditions, the following surprising results are obtained:

-   -   the mean obtained for bacteria is 226 063 whereas the reference        protocol based on only 100 μm beads gave a response of only 123        473,    -   the mean obtained for yeast cells is 2 952 656 whereas the        reference protocol based on only 500 μm beads gave a response of        only 2 105 519,    -   The method associated with this universal lysis protocol        consists therefore in performing mechanical vortex        centrifugation with the following parameters:    -   a lysis time of between 11 and 20 minutes, preferably between 15        and 20 minutes, and more preferably still of 20 minutes,    -   a percentage of beads with a diameter of 100 μm of under 30%,        preferably under 30%, and more preferably still of 20%, and    -   a total mass of lysing beads of over 60%, preferably over 80%,        and more preferably still of 100% of the total mass of the        processed biological sample, and    -   less than seven (7) glass beads, preferably just one (1).

V: RESULTS FOR LYSIS BY MAGNETIC VORTEX CENTRIFUGATION ACCORDING TO THEINVENTION

An ERM study is not necessary in this case because of the parametersstudied and their more restricted effect.

Similar experiments to those described above carried out for magneticvortex centrifugation show that the 100 μm beads are more effective than500 μm beads for lysing both bacteria and yeast cells.

The aim is to define, using beads with a diameter of 100 μm, optimumconditions for universal lysis based on magnetic vortex centrifugation.

The conditions investigated are:

-   -   the total amount of 100 μm beads,    -   the number of iron beads, and    -   lysis time.

A) Magnetic Vortex Centrifugation and Yeast Cells

The reference protocol is based on a total mass of lysing beads of 0.5g, a percentage of 100 μm beads of 0% (i.e. exclusively beads with adiameter of 500 μm), 10 iron beads, and a lysis time of 12 minutes. Themean reading is 852 648.

The results obtained are presented in Table 8 below.

TABLE 8 Comparison between the reference method and methods which couldmeet the criteria for this invention for the lysis of bacteria bymagnetic vortex centrifugation Total mass of 0.5 g 0.6 g lysing beadsNumber of iron 5 10 5 10 beads Lysis time 12 min. 20 min. 12 min. 20min. 12 min. 20 min. 12 min. 20 min. Mean 905,871 994,733 1,321,1761,511,558 799,621 926,658 1,326,085 1,541,946

These results confirm that the 100 μm beads are more effective than 500μm beads. The third condition gives a higher reading (1 321 176) thanthe reference condition Nevertheless, there is no substantial differencebetween 0.5 and 0.6 g.

Both the number of iron beads and lysis time have an effect; the bestresults are obtained with 10 iron beads and a 20-minute lysis time.

B) Magnetic Vortex Centrifugation and Bacteria:

The reference protocol is based on a total mass of lysing beads of 0.6g, a percentage of 100 μm beads of 100%, 10 iron beads, and a lysis timeof 10 minutes. The mean reading is 72 942.

The results obtained are presented in Table 9 below.

TABLE 9 Comparison between the reference method and methods which couldmeet the criteria for this invention for the lysis of bacteria bymagnetic vortex centrifugation Total mass of 0.5 g 0.6 g lysing beadsNumber of iron 5 10 5 10 beads Lysis time 12 min. 20 min. 12 min. 20min. 12 min. 20 min. 12 min. 20 min. Mean 50,613 69,614 70,589 84,77958,461 71,676 79,985 103,190

The total mass of lysing beads has little effect, but HPA readings areslightly higher with 0.6 g of 100 μm beads than with 0.5 g. Both thenumber of iron beads and lysis time have an effect; the best results areobtained with 10 iron beads and a 20-minute lysis time.

C) Selecting a Universal Protocol

The optimum conditions for both bacteria and yeast cells are thefollowing:

-   -   0.6 g of beads with a diameter of 100 μm,    -   10 iron beads, and    -   a lysis time of 20 minutes.

These conditions referred to as universal are, remarkably, moreeffective than the conditions referred to as reference conditions, as isshown in Table 10 below.

TABLE 10 Comparison between the reference methods and methods whichcould meet the criteria for this invention for the lysis of bacteria andyeast cells by magnetic vortex centrifugation Yeast cells BacteriaReference 852,648 72,942 protocol Universal 1,541,946 103,190 protocol

The method associated with this universal lysis protocol consiststherefore in performing magnetic vortex centrifugation with thefollowing parameters:

-   -   a lysis time of between 12 and 20 minutes, preferably between 15        and 20 minutes, and more preferably still of 20 minutes,    -   a total mass of lysing beads corresponding to over 80% and        preferably 100% of the total mass of the processed biological        sample, and    -   between five (5) and fifteen (15) iron beads, preferably        ten (10) iron beads.

VI. CONCLUSION

It is demonstrated that for all three techniques—sonication, mechanicalvortex centrifugation and magnetic vortex centrifugation—universalprotocols can be defined, i.e. protocols which can be used to lyseprokaryotic and/or eukaryotic cells with identical efficacy and, in manycases, superior efficacy to that of the protocols referred to asreference protocols.

1. A method for lysing cells, comprising providing a sample containingprokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells or a mixture of both prokaryoticcells and eukaryotic cells; adding a plurality of lysing beads to saidsample; lysing said cells using one method selected from the groupconsisting of sonication and mechanical vortex centrifugation for up to20 minutes, thereby producing a processed biological sample; wherein atleast three of the following parameters (a) through (d) are satisfied:(a) the lysing beads comprise small-diameter beads and large diameterbeads, with an amount of said small-diameter beads corresponding to 50%or less than an amount of said large-diameter beads; (b) a mass of thelysing beads is from 50 to 100% of a mass of the processed biologicalsample; (c) the lysing step is performed for a time of from 10 to 20minutes; (d) 7 or less non-lysing glass beads are added to said sampleprior to lysing to drive the movement of the lysing beads; wherein adiameter of the smaller lysing beads is between 90 and 150 μm, andwherein a diameter of the larger lysing beads is between 400 and 600 μm.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lysing beads are made of glass. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the sonication is performed under thefollowing parameters: a lysis time of between 9 and 20 minutes, apercentage of beads with a diameter of 100 μm of between 10 and 50%, anda total mass of lysing beads corresponding to between 50 and 100% of thetotal mass of the processed biological sample.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the mechanical vortex centrifugation is performed under thefollowing parameters: a lysis time of between 11 and 20 minutes, apercentage of beads with a diameter of 100 μm of under 50%, a total massof lysing beads of over 60%, of the total mass of the processedbiological sample, and less than seven glass beads.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the diameter of the smaller lysing beads is about 100μm, and the diameter of the larger lysing beads is about 500 μm.
 6. Themethod of claim 3, wherein said lysis time is between 12 and 18 minutes,said percentage of beads with a diameter of 100 μm is between 20 and30%, and said total mass of lysing beads corresponds to 75 to 90% of theprocessed biological sample.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein saidlysing time is 15 minutes, said percentage of beads with a diameter of100 μm is 20% and said total mass of lysing beads is between 80 and 85%of said processed biological sample.
 8. The method of claim 4, whereinsaid lysis time is between 15 and 20 minutes, said percentage of beadswith a diameter of 100 μm is under 30%, said total mass of lysing beadsis over 80% and wherein there is a single glass bead employed.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein said lysis time is 20 minutes, saidpercentage of beads with a diameter of 100 μm is 20%, and said totalmass of lysing beads is 100% of said processed biological sample.